Josh Childress to Greece?
July 21, 2008
If an NBA player is not going to get what he wants out of the Lig, he might just hop overseas. Atlanta Hawks swingman Josh Childess is seriously considering playing in Greece this upcoming season. The move would send shockwaves throughout the NBA and the ripple effect might cause the NBA team owners and David Stern to rethink terms of the soon-to-come CBA:
Childress flew to Greece late Sunday and is scheduled to meet with Olympiakos officials on Monday. Childress, 25, is so flustered with the Hawks’ refusal to make a sign-and-trade deal to another team, one source familiar with his thinking believes there’s “better than a 50-50 chance” he’ll sign with Olympiakos. The team also will cover the Greek taxes for Childress, making the offer even more lucrative.
“Unless he just gets there and doesn’t like it at all, I think he’s going to go,” one league source said.
Childress is a restricted free agent, but the Hawks would have no matching rights with a FIBA contract. Olympiakos’ offer also would allow Childress the opportunity to return to the NBA over the next two summers. The Hawks would maintain his restricted free-agent rights provided they make him a qualifying offer.
Childress’ talks with the Hawks have yet to gain traction because Atlanta officials have made it clear their first priority is to resolve negotiations with forward Josh Smith, their other restricted free agent. Privately, Childress has expressed little enthusiasm in returning to play for the organization, sources said.
Childress’ agent, Lon Babby, has instead looked to Europe to create leverage for his client, a unique approach that would have seemed unlikely as recently as three years ago. The U.S. dollar’s declining value compared to the Euro, coupled with the influx of money from Russian owners into the Euroleague, has now made Europe a much more attractive option for players.
Already this summer, the San Antonio Spurs’ 2007 first-round draft pick, Tiago Splitter, rejected an offer to join the NBA franchise because he can make more money by remaining in Spain. Toronto Raptors free agent Carlos Delfino signed a three-year, $13.5 million deal with Khimiki of Moscow. Juan Carlos Navarro of the Grizzlies returned to Spain for a reported five-year contract with FC Barcelona that could pay more than $20 million.
Even so, Childress, who averaged 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season, would send far greater waves through the NBA should he leave for the Euroleague. He would be the kind of coveted, young American talent who hadn’t previously left the NBA for Europe. Childress, 6-foot-8, played his college ball at Stanford, and is believed to have the international curiosity and maturity it might take to leave the NBA behind for a year.
If Childress joins Olympiakos then chooses to return to the NBA in either of the next two summers, he’ll likely be entering a more lucrative free-agent market than the current one.
Does this portend a global NBA (a WBA - World Basketball Association), is it a phase, or will Euro-team begin to cause a schism wityhin the ranks of the NBA, collegiate and some high school players looking to skip college?
We’ll see.
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9 Responses to “Josh Childress to Greece?”
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I suspect it’s more about a free trip to Greece and leverage than a real inclination to move to a league still considered inferior by homegrown yankees. Still it’s a pretty big deal that the funds are there to lure away decent Euros right now.
For sure this signals a trend that sees real talent being spread out across two continents. Does this dilute the NBA? Yes, irreversably. NBA teams will have to pay more for a quality bench and playoff fortunes will be even more dependent on durable 43-min all-stars.
I agree with you Charles, too many Athletes in America Inc., can’t see out side the radious of USA. Hell, you still have many who wouldn’t think of going to Toronto, for more reasons than the taxes.
I would love to see these young cats (a) stick it to the league (b) broaden their experience and (c) make wiser “investment “choices for themselves.
I’m crossing my fingers, toes and eyes hoping he would sign in Greece
How’s that age limit (NCAA plantation feeder) thing working out for ya, Stern?
Looks like Josh dipped to europe. I don’t blame him how many games do they play at the most??? 50 including plaoffs…………plus the dollar weak as he!!.
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/53710/20080723/childress_bolts_for_greece/
Childress has signed and I say good for him. I can’t wait to see how the media spins this.
How does him signing in Greece really hurt the NBA?
Childress is a good 6th man, at best, who didn’t want to take the mid level exception because he likely felt he deserved more.
This move does not hurt the league, someone will take his spot. Until the Kobe, Wade, LeBrons of the world consider playing overseas and the league faces the possibility of losing a superstar, it’s not going to hurt the league.
The team has to protect it’s best interests financially as well. Why go well over the cap and into luxury tax area for a 6th man? He’s a good player, but someone will take his spot. I say good move for him, but it doesn’t hurt the league at all.
Well I guess I guessed pretty wrong on this one. Those Euro teams have no caps it seems. It’s like sankofa said with the Toronto Raptors having to overpay for middlin talent in the beginning.
Boney, I think it hurts the league cuz now the price for quality backups is going up, substantially. And don’t kid yourself, quality backups are only a little easier to find and sign than all-stars. Some summer league performances can beguile, but Childress won’t be easily replaced.
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